The storage I use for my travel altar is currently a box I received a tarot deck in. I want to get a dedicated wooden box at some point but for now this works nicely! It’s sturdy and has a magnetic flap so I don’t have to worry about it opening and spilling things in my bag!

Upon opening the box’s flap, the first thing you see is the tenugui cloth I bought from Fushimi Inari Taisha! These are Japanese printed clothes which are used to wrap things in. This particular cloth is decorated with torii gates and foxes.

And this is what is wrapped up! The first thing you’d see is the photocopy of the Inari Norito (Inari Prayer) I have. Let’s delve further…

So here is the actual contents of the travel altar. I may add things from time to time depending on particular times of the year, or whatever kami/deities I am working with. But as for now the box contains:

Fox statues: These are small keychains from Fushimi Inari Taisha. There is a white ‘myoubu’ fox and a regular fox. I would love to have two white ones, but these were gifts! I feel that these two foxes work well though and they represent the spiritual and the mundane.

Sacred rice: In this red pouch is some raw rice from the fields surrounding Fushimi Inari Taisha. This was also a (much cherished!) gift. Rice represents life itself in Shinto and is one of the most important offerings to the kami we can make. I keep this rice as a type of charm – the energy from the very soil of Japan is very intense and spiritual.

Tarot deck: This is a small version of the Radiant Rider-Waite tarot. I use tarot every day and so this is an essential!

Omamori: This is a ‘lucky charm’ again from Fushimi Inari Taisha. In this case, I use it as a supplement ofuda for worship, as well as something to hold while praying.

Incense stand: For the incense, of course!

Citrine: A crystal with the power to recharge other crystals and emit positivity and joy. I use the citrine as a kind of spiritual battery for the portable altar.

Tealight candles and lighter: For offering to Inari-Ōkami!

Incense: As Inari-Ōkami is also a Buddhist deity, incense can be used as an offering. This incense is ‘dragon’s blood’.

Inari Norito: A photocopy from Shinto Norito of Inari Norito – the main prayer I currently recite when working with Inari-Ōkami.

And lastly, here is a sample set up of my travel altar!

I hope you enjoyed this post and I would love to see your travel altars if you have one!